Syracuse teacher wins national "STEM" award

David Lassman / The Post-StandardFile photo. In January, teacher Gwendolyn Maturo-Grasso works with her class at Lincoln Middle School. She had just received a grant to buy iPads and other computers for her students.

A national organization that promotes the study of engineering and related subjects just named Syracuse teacher Gwendolyn Maturo-Grasso as its 2012 teacher of the year.

SECME, formerly called the Southeastern Consortium for Minorities in Education, works to encourage students in underrepresented groups to pursue education in science, technology, engineering and math, known as “STEM.”

Maturo-Grasso teaches English and is the STEM outreach coordinator at Lincoln Middle School. She received $5,000 from SECME and told the school board early this evening she can use the money to buy more iPads for her students.